Ocean Springs Hospital Receives Prestigious Baby-Friendly Designation
Ocean Springs, MS (August 20, 2020) – Singing River’s Ocean Springs Hospital is proud to announce that it has achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly® Designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States.
“We are extremely proud to be recognized for the hard work of our team members throughout the Baby-Friendly process, all to help families get off to a healthier start. Breastfeeding has positive lifelong effects such as decreasing the risk of ovarian cancer in the mom, and decreasing the risk of obesity in the baby.”
Lori Weimer, Labor & Delivery Patient Care Manager, Singing River Health System
This distinguished honor demonstrates that Singing River Health System is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.
“Improving the health of our community is an integral part of Singing River’s overall Mission. Adopting the Baby-Friendly guidelines will assist us in implementing more evidence-based care to improve the health of both mothers and babies by creating a hospital experience that strongly supports a mother’s choice and ability to start and continue breastfeeding.”
Susan Russell, Chief Nursing Officer, Singing River Health System
The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”
“Singing River Health System is committed to providing the support, education, and resources needed for moms to be successful during and after their stay with us. The adoption of Baby-Friendly is just one more way to ensure the women in our community are receiving the highest quality of care available in the region at our facilities.”
Tiffany Murdock, Gulfport Hospital Administrator and Executive Director of Surgical Services, Singing River Health System
Singing River Ocean Springs Hospital joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 604 of which are in the United States. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.